Blog posts

Professional cover image for an article titled “Case Interviews: The Complete Guide From an Ex-McKinsey,” showing a consulting case interview scene with an interviewer, candidate, whiteboard frameworks, charts, and structured problem-solving visuals, with StrategyCase.com branding.

Case Interviews: The Complete 2026 Guide From an Ex-McKinsey Interviewer

By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated June 2026 A case interview is a job interview, used by consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, in which you solve a realistic business problem out loud while the interviewer scores your structuring, problem-solving, analytics, math, business judgment, and communication. A single case runs about…
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McKinsey Case Interview in 2026: What Your Interviewer Is Actually Scoring

By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated June 2026 The McKinsey case interview, which the firm calls the Problem-Solving Interview, is an interviewer-led business case: the interviewer drives the questions, hands you the data you need, and scores you against a standardized rubric while you structure the problem, run the math, and build…
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Conceptual cover image for an article on case interview frameworks, showing three visual principles: broad as many outward arrows, deep as a narrowing funnel, and insightful as a glowing target, with the title “Case Interview Frameworks: How to Be Broad, Deep, and Insightful.”

Case Interview Frameworks: How to Be Broad, Deep, and Insightful (2026)

By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated June 2026 A case interview framework is the custom structure you build at the start of a case to break a business problem into testable parts. The frameworks that win offers at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain are not memorized templates from a book. They are broad…
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StrategyCase.com cover explaining how to get a referral for McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, with network connections and a corporate skyline.

How to Get a Referral for McKinsey, BCG, Bain (2026)

Updated July 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A referral for McKinsey, BCG, or Bain is an explicit endorsement from a current consultant submitted alongside (or in advance of) your application, telling the recruiting team this candidate is worth a closer look. A strong MBB referral lifts your screening odds by 2-4x,…
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StrategyCase.com cover image for a consulting cover letter guide, featuring an application letter and envelope.

Consulting Cover Letter in 2026: McKinsey Screener Explains

Updated July 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A consulting cover letter is a one-page, 250-to-400-word document that proves three things: you fit the consultant profile, you understand the specific firm, and you can write clearly under your own name. As of 2026, McKinsey and BCG make the cover letter optional for…
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